Tavern58 at Gibbs, a downtown restaurant especially popular during the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival, has closed. A new eatery, Seven Seas Tavern, will open in its space at 58 University Ave., a few blocks from the Eastman Theatre.

Brothers Ryan and Nick Dwyer, along with executive chef Mike Schnupp, opened Tavern58 at the corner of University Avenue and Gibbs Street in 2008. It became a mainstay for dining downtown; among its attractions were its elevated comfort fare and inviting outdoor patio.

The owners expanded to Pittsford and East Rochester, in 2013 and 2015, respectively, but found it hard to gain footing in the suburbs. Pittsford's Tavern at Clover, in a 100-year-old barn that was once home to the Crystal Barn restaurant, transitioned to a party house operation in 2015 before closing. Tavern135, at 135 West Commercial St. in East Rochester, was open for 11 months before it closed in June 2016.

Opening in its place will be the Seven Seas Tavern, which will have a seafood-wharf tavern theme, said owner Trey Yager, an industry veteran who also owns Havana Cabana, a Caribbean-inspired restaurant at 289 Alexander St. The building has been remodeled; a fireplace and a six-foot, 250-gallon fresh water fish tank will be focal points of the décor.

"It's going to be cool," Yager said. "I don’t think there’s anything like it in Rochester.”

Yager hopes to reopen on Thursday, June 22, in time for Jazz Fest, but said the date is dependent on the establishment's liquor license.

Although the new restaurant is reaching out to customers via the Tavern 58 Facebook page, Yager stresses that "we're definitely not associated with Tavern 58 in any way." He will honor gift certificates purchased for Tavern 58 as a gesture of good will, he said.